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Let me start this letter with this: I am so, so sorry to those affected by the abortion bans that have been written into law. As a Canadian, I have the privilege to access an abortion, which I have…twice.

Periods: a topic most people shy away from talking about. But Amanda Laird is not most people. Talking about periods, reproductive health, abortion, miscarriage, infertility, menopause, etc. are her jam.

Sometimes I have long cycles. Like, really long. I’m talking the upwards of *75+ days long. They suck. The build-up of hormones leaves me in a perpetual state of waxing and waning PMS symptoms. It makes me feel helpless, especially when all I want to do is alleviate my discomfort.

A few weeks ago, my partner and I were up in the north woods of Minnesota enjoying a long weekend away. We spent our days out in nature. Hiking the hillsides, swimming in the lagoons of waterfalls, and enjoy vast views of the coniferous forests that stretched high above our heads. I was also on my period. Why is this relevant?

I am standing in the bathroom of an Airbnb with my skirt around my ankles holding a piece of toilet paper with orangey-peach streaks of blood. I track my cycles; I know I shouldn’t be bleeding yet and I can tell something is different.

Pelvic Exam. Possibly one of the most anxiety-riddled phrases known to the female-bodied population. It is a phrase that often evokes images of patients lying in a paper gown with their feet in stirrups while a doctor places a spotlight on their genitals and proceeds to poke around, for what seems like an eternity.

Menstruation. It's a word that still makes a lot of people squirm in their seats. Even though it is a physical phenomenon that happens to billions of people around the globe, it is still shrouded in secrecy, riddled with shame, and highly stigmatized.

As a sex educator, I spend a lot of time helping young people avoid pregnancy. Yay! Understanding the basics of birth control, reproductive health and sexual health are all great foundation blocks for helping you navigate your life.

When it comes to protecting yourself from STIs, it is important to understand how they are transmitted. But just as important as preventing the spread of STIs, understanding signs and symptoms, knowing the long-term health implications, how to get tested, and how to treat them if the need should arise are also good things to know. Luckily, I’m going to be going over all of this for you.

When I was in 4th grade, I was handed this little pamphlet called “Your Body and You” – or was it “Your Changing Body and You”? Hmm. Either way, I remember being fascinated about the changes I was going to experience (even though at the time I had no true concept of what it meant).

I grew up with irregular cycles. I would go months without a period. My doctor often reassured me that wild swings in cycle length is “normal” for a newly menstruating girl, which is true. But what I wish she would have told me is that if it continued past the first couple of years there might be something amiss.

When I was 25, I was ready to explore different methods of *birth control. While researching new options, I stumbled across the Fertility Awareness Method (not to be confused with the Rhythm Method). If you are unfamiliar, I won’t go too much into detail here, but one of the signs that can help you predict ovulation is to monitor the changes in your cervix.